Ross counters Austin Bramwell:
The rationale for the movement and its institutions is to advance right-wing ideas, not to preserve them. And while it’s true that many individual ideas identified with modern conservatism are held and defended by non-conservative thinkers, it’s awfully hard to argue that, say, Nat Hentoff has done more for the pro-life cause than the National Right to Life Committee. If you want your ideas translated into actual policy, a few sympathetic columnists won’t do the job: You need think tanks and activist groups and lobbyists. You need, in other words, a movement.
I suppose congressmen and congresswomen and Senators are no longer enough. And ideas don’t matter. And yes, Nat Hentoff has done more.
The Dish 